Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable from either Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. They belong solely to the two authors whose brilliant minds created these worlds.
This is my first crossover. Please review and tell me what you think.
Thank you.
WARNING: This story is rated M for implied rape, abuse, abandonment, and mild violence.
Note: The words spoken in Elfish will be italicized.
Author's Note: From this chapter on, Hermione's name will be Siladhiel Ithilwen or just Siladhiel.
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Belonging
By Adonnenniel Zillah
~Tracked~
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On they ran the four of them. They ran nonstop to catch up with the Uruk-hai that had taken Merry and Pippin. Aragorn stopped and knelt down before a rock, placing his ear on it. Siladhiel took this small break to check and heal Boromir's wounds. The wounds were healing quickly thanks to her energy that she would give him to help, but she knew that once they were able to stop, they would have to let him rest for a few days. Aragorn stood up causing the others to look at him.
"The Uruk-hais' pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent. We must hurry." With that, Aragorn took off running. Legolas followed him and called out to Siladhiel, Boromir, and Gimli.
"Come on!"
Gimli groaned and looked at Siladhiel. "Three days and three night's pursuit. No food, no rest, and no sign of our quarry, but what bare rock can tell!" Siladhiel laughed then ran after the others followed by Gimli and Boromir.
They ran on until again, Aragorn stopped and bent down to pick something up from the ground. Siladhiel came up beside him to look at what he held. Subconsciously, she lifted a hand and gently touched the leaf clasp on her cloak she got from Lothlórien. It was the same, the single leave with silver vines and a rope of silver wrapped around the leaf. "Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall."
"They may yet still be alive, Aragorn. Maybe less than a day ahead of us." Siladhiel placed a hand on Aragorn's arm and smiled softly before taking off into a run again. "Come Gimli! We are gaining on them."
Gimli groaned again at seeing her run and shook his head at her words. "I am wasted on cross-country. We Dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over a short distance."
After some time, Aragorn stopped and looked out at the land before them. "Rohan, home of the Horse Lords. There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets its will against us." Aragorn ran for a short distance then stopped and called out to Legolas who had run up further ahead. "Legolas! What do your Elf Eyes see?"
Siladhiel ran up beside Legolas and looked out then narrowed her eyes in agitation. The group's cloaks flared out as a sudden wind came over the land. Legolas glanced down at Siladhiel then out to where the Uruk-hais were. "The Uruks turned Northeast."
Siladhiel's eyes widened in sudden realization. "They are taking the Hobbits to Isengard!" All of them thought of the same single word, one single name. Saruman. The group took off running once again with determination to catch the Uruk-hais and save the Hobbits. They ran all morning and on past noon as the sun traveled across the sky. They were nowhere nearer to catching those they sought but they were not about to give in.
"Keep breathing. That's the key, keep breathing." Poor Gimli panted as he ran. He was after all, dressed from head to toe in heavy Dwarfish Armor. Boromir, however, was also getting tired cause of his wounds.
"They've run as though the very whips of their masters were behind them!" They sped up as much as they could and ran until the moon had replaced the sun in the sky, only pausing long enough for Siladhiel to check on Boromir. They still did not stop until the sun rose and Legolas looked at the reddened sunrise with worry. "A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled on this night." Siladhiel looked at Legolas and Aragorn with worry. Did that mean that the Hobbits were harmed? They started running faster in hopes that the two Hobbits would still be all right.
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Aragorn stopped and knelt down to check the tracks when in the distance the group heard a thundering sound coming closer. He looked around then stood up gesturing to the others to follow as he ran to the nearby rocks to hide. They all crouched down and watched as several horsemen rode past them, all in armor. Aragorn recognized them then moved to stand up and walked out from behind the rocks followed by the others whom looked at him confused.
"Riders of Rohan! What news you have from the Mark?" The Fellowship watched as the Riders turned around to come back at them and soon they were surrounded with spears aimed at them. All but Siladhiel held up their hands in a gesture that said they meaning no threat when the one whom was the leader rode up and looked at each of them, his eyes resting longer on Siladhiel in confusion and wonder.
"What business do Elves, Men, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?" When no one answered his inquiry, he narrowed his eyes and moved to place his hand on his sword's hilt as he spoke again in a more demanding tone. "Speak quickly!"
"Give me your name Horse-Master, and I shall give you mine." Aragorn, Siladhiel, Legolas, and Boromir looked at Gimli as he spoke before returning their attention to the Commander of the Army that surrounded them as he dismounted and walked up to Gimli.
"I would cut off your head Dwarf if it stood just a bit higher from the ground." Instantly Siladhiel and Legolas had their bows drawn, Siladhiel's aimed at the leader and Legolas's aimed at those whose spears came closer to her. A voice rang out that surprised the Riders and made all eyes turn to the one whom had spoken.
"You would be dead before your stroke fell, let alone before you even moved to do so, Sir." The sound of Siladhiel's voice caused a silence to envelop the area before one of the horsemen called out.
"A woman? Why don't you come to me, My Dear, and I will show you what I am sure these men are lacking!" Several others laughed and whistled before they were silenced as the Commander that raised a fist, his eyes locked on Siladhiel.
"Show your face woman. And tell me why you are traveling with these males and laden with such weaponry."
"I will do no such thing, Sir. I have no need to explain myself to one who had just threatened one of my companions." At a subtle signal from the Commander, two horsemen nearest to Siladhiel, quickly dismounted then grabbed Siladhiel. One held her arms as she struggled and the other pulled the hood of her cloak down revealing her face. Her eyes were a gold that were filled with fury at being handled in such away as she glared at the Commander who looked at her in shock. He merely assumed by her clothing and weaponry that she was an Elf and was not expecting her to be a female nor one so fair.
Though she did not show it, she was fighting the panic that was starting to build up as memories of the time she was locked up in a warehouse after her birth father abandoned her and before Gandalf had found her, came rushing through her mind. Her companions, who knew of what happened in her past, watched in horror knowing that they could not do anything to help her, for they would most likely be killed, the horsemen would assume them to be a threat if they did. Aragorn gently grabbed the Commander's shoulder and looked at him pleadingly.
"Please, let her go. We mean you all no harm. We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your King. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Boromir, Son of the Steward of Gondor. Gimli, Son of Gloin. Legolas of the Woodland Realm and she is Ithilwen, the youngest daughter of Lord Elrond of Rivendell." The Commander's eyes widen as he heard that she was the daughter of an Elf Lord and looked at Aragorn in shock before looking back at Siladhiel, who still glared at him with her head held high and no fear despite the inner turmoil she was having. The men holding her instantly let her go without waiting for their Commander's orders. Legolas reached out and pulled her close as he glared hatefully at the men and replaced Siladhiel's hood to hide her face. The minute she felt Legolas's arms around her, she relaxed and trembled slightly.
"My apologies, My Lady. Please forgive me." The Commander bowed low to her then stood back up and looked at Aragorn as he removed his helmet. As he did so, the other Riders raised the spears and waited for further instructions. "As for our King, Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. Nor that of his own kin for I am his nephew, Éomer. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king, and has claimed Lordship over these lands. My company are those still loyal to Rohan, and for that we are banished." Aragorn and Legolas looked at the man in surprise and confusion. What exactly is going on here? Éomer leaned in closer to Aragorn and hissed out in disgust. "The white wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say. As an old man, hooded and cloaked." He looked at Legolas as he continued, whose only reaction was to narrow his eyes and hold Siladhiel closer. "And everywhere his spies slip through our nets."
"We are no spies." Siladhiel gently pulled away from Legolas to turn and look at Éomer, looking at him in the eyes though her hood blocked him from seeing anything more than her chin and lips. "We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our companions captive."
Éomer looked down at Siladhiel and as she spoke, his expression turned somber and it caused her to tense in worry. "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them in the night."
"But there were two Hobbits with them! Did you see two Hobbits?" Gimli blurted out as the man's words caused everyone to worry and fear for their two Hobbit friends.
Aragorn rushed in to explain further as many do not know what a Hobbit is. "They are small. Only children to your eyes."
Éomer shook his head and bowed his head before looking back up to Aragorn. "We left none alive." He pointed out over the hill where the Fellowship noticed smoke rising into the morning sky. "We piled the carcasses and burned them."
The Fellowship stared at Éomer and Gimli let out a word that sounded broken as he forced it out of his tight throat. "Dead?"
Éomer nodded and bowed his head. "I am sorry." He turned his head and whistled before calling out four names. "Hasufel! Arod! Arocch! Eriol!" Four horses, two brown; one white; and one a near black, walked up to him. All four were rider less. He grabbed the reigns and offered them to Legolas and Aragorn. "May these Horses bear you better fortune than their former masters. Farewell." He bowed he head then walked over to his own horse and remounted it. "Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands." He placed his helmet back onto his head and remounted his horse before looking at the other Riders of the Rohirim. "We ride north!"
The Riders rode off leaving the Fellowship and the three horses. Siladhiel looked sadly at the saddle. She hated using them but also did not want to just leave the well-made saddle. She cursed herself for being stupid as she remembered her wand. She shrank the saddle down and placed it into her bag then mounted the horse. Gimli sat behind Legolas on the white horse as both Boromir and Aragorn mounted onto the back of the two brown horses. Eriol, the horse she rode, shivered then pawed the ground impatiently with his front hoof as both he and Siladhiel waited for the others. Once everyone was situated, the fellowship rode off to the area where Éomer told them that he had burned the Orcs' corpses.
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Once they got to the area, Aragorn was the first to dismount followed by Gimli who had just slid down from behind Legolas. The other three dismounted as Gimli walked up to the pile and used his axe to shift through. They watched as Gimli reached out and held up a sheath for an Elven Dagger.
"It's one of their wee belts." Legolas bowed his head offering a small prayer in Elvish and Boromir collapsed to his knees as Aragorn let out a strangled cry. He felt like he failed to protect them. Siladhiel stood and stared at the pile of bodies. Something was not right. Éomer would have noticed that two of the bodies were not of Orcish heritage if indeed Merry and Pippin were killed. She was just about to voice her thoughts when a voice entered her mind.
"Child, the two younglings you seek are within the Forest. They are alive and safe."
Siladhiel jumped and looked around. The voice was female but she could not see from where it came. "We have been waiting long for your return, My Lady. You are greatly needed." Siladhiel's eyes were drawn to the forest. Why did she feel the voice was that of the forest? For it seemed female but it had a feel as though it was many voices in one.
"Is everything alright?" Legolas stepped up next to Siladhiel making her turn to him as she heard his voice.
" I am fine, Legolas, just-" Her head snapped back to the forest as she again heard the voice.
"The Hobbits you seek are within Fangorn Forest, My Lady. We protected them when the orcs were attacked and they escaped."
"Aragorn, I believe that Merry and Pippin are still alive. They ran into Fangorn forest."
"Fangorn? What madness drove them there?" Siladhiel looked down at Gimli and raised a brow before looking back up and into the dark forest.
"I do not know, Gimli. It is just… a feeling I have. Besides, it was no doubt the safest place they could go when the orcs were attacked by Éomer and his men."
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The Fellowship tied the horses to a low branch, making sure that they were hidden from sight before heading into the dark forest in pursuit of their friends. They followed the tracks and Gimli walked over to a patch of leaves that had a wet substance on them. Testing it, he spat it back out then turned to look at Aragorn. "Orc blood"
Aragorn nodded ad looked at the ground in confusion as the tracks stopped but something else took over. "These are strange tracks."
They walked on and Gimli started to feel nervous as the air around them became thick. "The air is so close in here."
"The forest is old. Very old. Full of memory… and anger." Gimli lifted his ax and looked around frantically as loud groans and sounds came from all around. The others froze and Legolas looked around in awe but Siladhiel saw a hint of sadness.
"The trees are speaking to one another…"
"Tell the Dwarf to lower his axe or we will attack!" Siladhiel jumped at the sudden yell an obviously male sounding tree sent to her and she turned around to look at Gimli.
"Gimli! Lower your axe!" Gimli slowly raised his hand in the sign of peace and lowered his axe looking around at the trees nervously.
Legolas looked at him with a half-smile in amusement. "They have feelings, my friend." He turned to look at Siladhiel. "The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, and teaching them to speak."
"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about, hmm? Except for the consistency of squirrel droppings." Siladhiel shook her head and smiled but turned to Legolas as he moved a head speaking out in Elvish.
"Aragorn, something is out there!" Aragorn came over to him trying to see what it was the Elven male saw.
"What do you see?"
"The White Wizard approaches." He gestured with his head to the direction. Glancing subtly over her right shoulder, Siladhiel looked to see where the white wizard was coming.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us." Aragorn slowly reached for his sword and Boromir mirrored his actions while both Siladhiel and Legolas readied their bow and Gimli prepared to throw his axe. All at once, they turned and faced the white wizard that was shrouded with light, making them unable to see the man. Gimli threw his axe but watched, frozen, as the wizard easily deflected it. Legolas shot his arrow, but it also was deflected. The trees yelled at Siladhiel not to attack making her falter in confusion and grabbed her head as if getting a sudden headache, then watched as both Boromir and Aragorn dropped their swords as they grew red hot and started to burn their hands.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits."
"Where are they!?" Aragorn called out as he lifted his hands to block out the light. The others too shielded their eyes from the brightness.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" Siladhiel could not help but wonder why the voice seemed familiar and yet it did not.
Aragorn seemed to have had the same thought as Siladhiel. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
The light dimmed and everyone stood in shock as a familiar face they never expected to see became clear. Gandalf stood before them clothed in white as was his hair. A white staff was in his hand instead of the gnarled wooden one that he used to carry with him.
Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir fell to their knees as Legolas spoke softly. "Forgive me, I mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman, or rather , Saruman as he should have been."
"It cannot be. You fell. I watched you." Aragorn could not believe what he was seeing. Siladhiel was the same but she also felt hurt that he has apparently been back for some time and did not come find them.
"And so I did. Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as a life age of the Earth. It was not the end for me. I felt new life in me again. I have been sent back, until my task is done."
"Gandalf…"
"Gandalf? Ah yes… That is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide." He paused and looked at Siladhiel who stood there staring at him with a mixture of hurt and confusion. He sighed and smiled reassuringly then opened his arms to her. Siladhiel did not hesitate to run into his arms. To her he was like a grandfather. His death had been hard on her on many levels and to see him back with them and alive after so long, she did not know what else to do other than cry. And cry she did. Gandalf held her close as she cried into his chest then addressed the Fellowship. "One stage of your journey is over another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras? That is no short distance." Siladhiel glanced down at Gimli and grinned shaking her head.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king."
"Yes, Aragorn, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf's voice was grave as he spoke. A lot was about to happen and he hoped that Frodo would still be hidden from the Dark Lord.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested…?" The trees groaned causing Gimli to look around in alarm as he quickly restated what he was saying. "I mean charming, quite charming forest."
Gandalf looked at Gimli with a stern expression. "It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."
Aragorn leaned in closer to Gandalf. "In one thing you have not changed, dear friend. You still speak in riddles." This statement caused Legolas, Siladhiel, Aragorn, and Gandalf to chuckle causing Boromir and Gimli to look at them in confusion.
"A thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Siladhiel looked at Gandalf curiously but then turned her gaze to the trees as they whispered their thoughts on the matter inside Siladhiel's head. Unknowing to her, Gandalf looked at Siladhiel with a knowing expression that did not go unnoticed by Legolas.
"Strong? Oh, that's good." Gimli smiled nervously at the trees as he heard them speak once more.
"So stop your fretting Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be." He turned and started walking out of the forest leaving the fellowship to stare at him.
"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Everyone chuckled then followed Gandalf out of the forest. Once they were out of the tree line, Aragorn and Boromir went and got their horses. Siladhiel was going to offer hers to Gandalf and ride behind Aragorn when Gandalf let out an echoing whistle. Not long after there was an answering neigh and a beautiful white horse came into the fellowship's line of sight causing them to gasp.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
Siladhiel looked at Legolas then back at the horse. The stallion was indeed beautiful and somehow much different from that of the four horses Éomer gave to them. The White Horse ran towards them then slowed down to a trot before stopping before Gandalf who bowed then greeted him like an old friend. "Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers." Shadowfax nuzzled Gandalf in greeting before pulling back. The group watched as Shadowfax turned from Gandalf to face Siladhiel then bowed to her by extending a foreleg out then bending the other in as he lowered his head. Gandalf's eyes widened in surprise. The others looked at Siladhiel as if she would tell them what was going on. Confused, Siladhiel hesitantly bowed her head in return and blinked as Shadowfax straightened then continued to look at her. Aragorn cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention.
"Perhaps we should head out?"
"Indeed! Everyone, mount up. We have quite a ways to go until we get to Edoras." Siladhiel turned to mount Eriol when a sudden nudge from Shadowfax's head nearly knocked her over. Everyone looked at Shadowfax in curiosity as Siladhiel once again tried to mount the darker horse only to be bumped away again by Shadowfax as though to tell her not to mount the darker horse. She turned and looked at Shadowfax, placing her hands on her hips.
"What? Am I not allowed to ride Eriol?" As if to answer her, Shadowfax nodded his head then turned so that his side was facing her. She looked at him blankly before someone's hands were at her waist and lifted her up onto Shadowfax's back. She looked down at Gandalf in confusion.
"My dear, I cannot fully explain to you why at this time, but know that because of who you are, you are to ride him and not me. He is meant to be your companion."
Siladhiel opened her mouth to protest when another voice echoed within her mind. "The Wizard speaks truth, Young One. I was trapped at Edoras when Gandalf needed a horse to get to where he was needed so I let him ride me so that I could leave. Your arrival has been long awaited and I am glad to be with you now, Siladhiel."
Siladhiel stared at Shadowfax who had turned his head to look back at her. "How is it you know my name?"
"The answers you seek are not yet ready to be revealed. You must be patient. Now let us be off. We are needed in Edoras." She looked around and noticed that everyone was ready to depart. Nodding her head, Siladhiel signaled for Shadowfax to depart. He took off at a gallop followed by the others.
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